The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

The weather is getting colder and colder, and for many days in a row, the sky has been gray and gloomy.

Early in the morning, Shen Cao opened the door and saw her mother, who had already tidied up.

"Grass, sleep a little longer. The weather is getting gloomy, it looks like it's going to snow."

“Your older brother wrote to say that he will come back for the Chinese New Year this year. I was thinking of taking his bedding out to air it now that the sun is out.”

"Judging from the looks of it, the only solution is to put some charcoal stoves in his room to warm him up."

"Ok!"

"Time flies, the New Year is almost here."

"Yes, your older brother has been away from home for almost three months now. I wonder if he's lost weight."

"Mother, don't worry. With Grand Tutor Zhou taking care of you, what is there to worry about?"

“Even if my brother loses weight, he will be much stronger. Didn’t my brother say in his letter that Grand Tutor Zhou specially found someone to teach him some kung fu?”

"I don't expect him to achieve academic success, I just hope he can stay healthy. I bet my older brother is already quite strong."

"hope so."

During this period, Shen Cao would make one or two snacks for Shen Yu'an and the others to try every day.

Over the past month, they have eaten sixty or seventy different kinds of snacks.

Shen Cao and Wan Yue had already discussed their restaurant business, and they would offer private dishes, hot pot, and shabu-shabu.

There are four floors in total, so you won't have to worry about finding a place to stay.

During this period, the two spent all their time in the study discussing the details of the renovation and the things they needed to prepare for opening a restaurant.

Wanyue then realized how difficult it was to do business; she had to personally take care of everything, from large items like tables and chairs to small items like pots and pans.

Although the place already had many ready-made tables, chairs, and benches, the two of them still decided to change the style of the existing ones.

They need to create their own style.

However, in the past few days, it has been noticeable that Wanyue's mood has been getting lower and lower.

Shen Cao knew that they were about to part ways, and the little girl was reluctant to leave.

"Sigh!" This was her twenty-eighth sigh of the day.

"Wanyue, are you in a bad mood?"

"No, Sister Grass, where were we?"

Shen Cao put down her pen. "We've almost finished discussing everything. I feel like you're not in a particularly good mood today."

"Sister Grass, I am..."

The little girl's eyes welled up with tears as she spoke. "I just can't bear to leave you, and I don't want to go back to the capital."

Shen Cao smiled and said, "It's not like we'll never see each other again. Besides, the New Year is just around the corner. Don't you miss your father and mother?"

"I want to, but I'm even more reluctant to part with you, Sister Cao'er."

"Sister Cao'er is also reluctant to part with you, but it's an unchangeable fact that you're going back to the capital. There are only a few days left. Do you really want to spend them all in this sad mood?"

Wanyue picked up a handkerchief and wiped away her tears. "I didn't want to, but I couldn't help it."

Shen Cao walked to the little girl's side, put her in his arms, and patted her back to comfort her, "Wanyue, all good things must come to an end."

"Sister Cao'er, I'll try my best to open the restaurant in the capital as soon as possible, then we can meet again."

Upon hearing Shen Cao's words, Wan Yue's eyes lit up. "Will Sister Cao'er also go to the capital in the future?"

"Of course! Have you forgotten? Didn't I tell you I have an older brother?"

"My elder brother is currently studying in the capital. He will pass the imperial examinations and become a pillar of the Great Xia Kingdom."

"He also said that once he succeeds in becoming a high-ranking official in Beijing, he will bring us to the capital."

"So, we might meet up again in the capital soon."

Wanyue sniffed. "Then I'll wait for you in the capital. You have to come quickly." I'm afraid I won't be able to wait for you.

"Ah."

"We'll pinky swear, pinky swear, a hundred years from now, never to be broken."

"Now you can rest assured."

She nodded.

In a military camp on the border, Ji Lingfeng held a black handkerchief in his hand and carefully stroked it, as if it were a priceless treasure in the world.

It's been so long, I wonder how that little guy is doing, and whether he's made a lot of money.

She probably forgot about me a long time ago.

As soon as He Yu walked in, he saw his general staring intently at the black handkerchief again.

"General, the matter has been almost resolved, and we can set off back to the capital in a few days."

"Ah."

"By the way, did you visit Shen's Restaurant when you went to Xin'an County this time?"

"General, you want to ask about Miss Shen, right? She's doing very well."

"I heard that she's been doing business with the eldest son of the Shen family and the young master of the Wei family lately."

"You mean Shen Yu'an and Wei Siyu?"

"Mm." Tsuruha nodded.

"They seem to have known each other for a long time and have a very good relationship. They eat at Shen's Restaurant every day."

"They are almost inseparable."

They actually knew each other. Thinking of Shen Yu'an's elegant and refined appearance, Ji Lingfeng unconsciously clenched his fist under his sleeve.

"Oh, I see."

"Then get ready, we'll head back to Beijing as soon as possible."

Before leaving, He Yu took out something from his arms.

"General, this is pork jerky that I bought from Miss Shen at Shen's Restaurant after this mission was over."

“Miss Shen made an extra portion; I think she probably wanted to give it to you to try.”

Ji Lingfeng took the pork jerky, put a piece in his mouth, and tasted the familiar flavor.

It was rare that she could still remember him; the gloom that had just been there vanished instantly, and a smile that he couldn't suppress appeared on his lips.

He Yu left Ji Lingfeng's tent and walked for a while before entering a tent that was slightly smaller than Ji Lingfeng's.

As soon as he entered, he stretched out his hand. "Give it to me. I told you, the General would be laughing today."

"You still insist on making a bet with me."

Hefei and the others reluctantly handed him one or two taels of silver.

"I told you before, the master loves Miss Shen's pork jerky the most. He'll definitely be happy if he eats it."

“You still don’t understand your master. You should learn from him.”

Hefei thought about his master's expression when he saw the black handkerchief, and he couldn't help but facepalm. How could he have been defeated by such a person?

When did our master become such a glutton? He's not happy about eating the pork jerky, but rather about the person who made it!

He kicked He Yu in anger. Oh well, what can he do? He came in late; he had no choice.

"Why are you such a sore loser, resorting to violence? Hefei, I have no respect for you!"

"Get the hell out of here..." He Fei almost vomited blood on the spot.

……

Even though we were reluctant to part, the day had come for us to say goodbye.

Several days in advance, Shen Cao prepared food for them to take with them when they left.

Because of the cold weather, she prepared plenty of pork jerky, various snacks that could be taken with her, and chili sauce.

Looking at the large and small bags that Shen Cao had prepared for them, Wan Yue couldn't help but cry.

"Sister Grass, I still can't bear to part with you."

She held onto Shen Cao tightly for a long time, unwilling to let go.

"Sister Cao'er, you promised me you would come to the capital someday."

"Don't worry, I will definitely write you a letter every seven days until I go to the capital."

"You too, remember to tell me in your letter if there's anything you want to eat, and I'll send it to you."

"Waaaaah...!!!" Upon hearing Shen Cao's words, Wanyue burst into tears. Sister Cao'er is so kind! I don't want to leave! Father, can we move the capital to Xin'an County?